Looking for Nerine sarniensis seed

[Rogan]

I have been overwhelmed by the beauty of the N. sarniensis species and the many beautiful hybrids displayed on this forum, and now would like to try some for myself (it's shameful that a South African has never tried to grow this plant before - in fact they're quite difficult to get hold of here!). So, if you can spare some seeds when they're ready for collection, please remember me - of course I'll pay for postage and any other costs incurred by you, or I'll send you something in exchange.

[fermi de Sousa]

Hi Rogan,
remind me in April/May when the seed should be ripening here!
Can you receive bulbs from here without an import licence?
cheers
fermi

[mark smyth]

When I'm repotting next year I should have a small list

[Lesley Cox]

(it's shameful that a South African has never tried to grow this plant before - in fact they're quite difficult to get hold of here!).

Well they're Guernsey lilies after all Rogan.

[johnw]

Rogan - I'll send you seed too when it ripens. That could be December or January. I can assure you they are straight sarniensis as many are very complicated hybrids.  Have only seen about 15 buds this year but there may be more in November.

johnw

[Paul T]

I grow a number of Nerine "hybrids" (i.e the named cultivars) and rarely ever get seed on any of them.  I don't know whether it is my climate or the particular varieties, but I very rarely if ever get seed from any of them.  The various species on the other hand seem to produce seed just fine by themselves.  I wish mine WOULD set seed, as I would love to see the results of seedlings from some of the named varieties.

[Lesley Cox]

It does help to hand pollinate I think Paul. I get a (very) little seed on my dwarf forms but only if I hand pollinate and only if done when the weather is settled and warm which I can't guarantee at the best of times, let alone in autumn.

[Paul T]

Lesley,

I've tried some hand pollinating, but to no avail.  I have no idea of the temperatures etc at the time.... it IS afterall Autumn as you said.

[fermi de Sousa]

Lesley,

I've tried some hand pollinating, but to no avail.  I have no idea of the temperatures etc at the time.... it IS afterall Autumn as you said.

That seems a bit strange, Paul. Even cutflowers of the nerine hybrids will set seed here! There is enough "food" in the flower-stem to produce a full head of seed very often. I have several seedlings coming on from flowers we got when we visited peter Genat's Nursery a couple of years ago: http://www.srgc.org.uk/smf/index.php?topic=249.30
see reply #37.
cheers
fermi

[Paul T]

Fermi,

I've had seeds start to set (or appear to) and then abort, but never matured anything off any of the hybrids.  it isn't like I get out there and pollinate everything either, I might add, just an occasional dabble, given up after a couple of years as a pointless task here for whatever reason.  Great pics in that series you posted by the way..... I would definitely have bought a bag of them while I was there... in fact probably a couple of bags. 

[Lesley Cox]

What you're saying is of some interest Fermi and maybe Paul can note this. In my (limited) experience, I have more seed form and mature on cut stems of bloom than on stems left on the bulbs. I've had a dozen stems in a jar on the bench and the seed falling off them all over the place, whereas on the bulbs they often shrivel and die. The "seeds" actually turn into tiny bulbs if you don't sow them for a while.

[Rogan]

Thanks All, for your generous offer of seed. I'll remind you again at a more appropriate time